Pharma BD Deal Intelligence

Bioverativ Inc. / True North Therapeutics, Inc.

2017 · Acquisition/Merger · $825M · Complete

WRONG BY 31 POINTS

The lead asset (BIVV009/Enjaymo) eventually became a real, approved niche drug — but hit a 2020 FDA rejection first, and Sanofi (which inherited it via the 2018 Bioverativ buyout) ultimately sold it off entirely to Recordati in 2024 rather than keep it.

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The coverage arc

May 23, 2017 BioPharma Dive Bullish

Cast the True North buy as Bioverativ's first M&A move post-Biogen spinout, signaling a broader rare-disease strategy beyond hemophilia and citing…

Jun 28, 2017 Business Wire (Bioverativ) Neutral

Confirmed deal close on June 28, 2017 and reiterated the strategic rationale of broadening the rare-blood-disorder pipeline into complement-mediated diseases.

Feb 04, 2022 Sanofi Bullish

Announced FDA approval of Enjaymo (sutimlimab-jome) as the first and only treatment for hemolysis in adults with cold agglutinin disease, validating the…

Source summaries from our enrichment pipeline; follow links for originals.

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Bioverativ agreed to acquire clinical-stage rare disease biotech True North Therapeutics for $400M upfront cash plus up to $425M in development, regulatory and sales milestones (~$825M total). The lead asset BIVV009 (later sutimlimab) is a first-in-class anti-C1s antibody for cold agglutinin disease. Closed June 2017.

Did it work? Outcome assessment

The lead asset (BIVV009/Enjaymo) eventually became a real, approved niche drug — but hit a 2020 FDA rejection first, and Sanofi (which inherited it via the 2018 Bioverativ buyout) ultimately sold it off entirely to Recordati in 2024 rather than keep it.

Strategic verdict
Partially Achieved
Financial impact
Accretive
Pipeline outcome
Assets Advanced

Key facts

Related deals — scored

DealYearValueOutcome
Bioverativ Inc. / True North Therapeutics, Inc. (this deal)2017$825M57
Amgen Inc. / Micromet Inc.2012$1.2B88
Servier / Shire plc (Oncology Business)2018$2.4B88
AstraZeneca PLC / Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.2020$39.0B86
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB / Biovitrum2001$493M84
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. / Astex Pharmaceuticals2013$886M79
AbbVie Inc. / Pharmacyclics Inc.2015$21.0B79

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